Big first inning enough offense for Captains against Dayton

(Dayton, OH) – The Lake County Captains (39-34) scored four first inning runs in a 7-4 win on Tuesday night against the Dayton Dragons (39-33) from Day Air Ballpark.

The Captains exploded for four runs in the first inning against rehabbing big league right-hander Michael Feliz. Brayan Rocchio got the rally started with a one-out double to left-center and advanced to third on an error by center fielder Michael Siani. With two outs in the inning George Valera walked to extend the inning. Micah Pries got the Captains on the board with a single through the right side that scored Rocchio and sent Valera to third. On the first pitch to Joe Naranjo, he smoked a line drive home run to right field to put the Captains on top 4-0.

In the bottom of the first inning the Dragons answered with one run to make the score 4-1, Captains. Francisco Urbaez twisted a fly ball down the right field line just out of Valera’s reach. The ball kicked away towards right center and nestled under the right field wall. By the time Valera dug the ball out Urbaez was rounding third and scored easily for an inside the park home run.

It took until the sixth for the Dragons to get another run. After starter Kevin Coulter held Dayton to one run over five innings, reliever Nathan Ocker came in from the bullpen and walked Urbaez. Juan Martinez followed with a single to put men on first and second. A double play put Urbaez on third with two outs and Victor Ruiz singled to center. Urbaez scored to cut the Captains’ lead to 4-2.

The Captains answered with a run of their own in the seventh to push their lead back to three runs. Naranjo got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then with one out Raynel Delgado doubled down the right field line. With runners on second and third Quentin Holmes knocked a high bouncing ball to the shortstop that was deep enough to drive in Naranjo and make the score 5-2, Captains.

In the bottom of the eighth the Dragons struck back for another run. Garrett Wolforth tripled off the right field wall to open the inning. On the next pitch Victor Ruiz slapped a single up the middle to drive in Wolforth and make the score 5-3, Captains.

Lake County pushed across two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to go on top 7-3. Pries walked to lead off the inning, then Naranjo singled for his second hit of the day. With nobody out

Victor Nova singled to right field that drove in Pries, but Naranjo was thrown out at third base on the play. After a Delgado strikeout, with Holmes at the plate Nova took off for second. The throw from catcher Eric Yang skipped into center field and Nova took off for third. As he slid into third base the throw from center by Siani sailed into the Dragons’ dugout out of play, which allowed Nova to trot home, scoring from first on the play.

Dayton made a last gasp in the ninth inning but fell short. Hurtubise walked to spark the rally. An Urbaez single with one out moved Hurtubise to third base. A groundout to third base from pinch hitter Alex McGarry scored Hurtubise to make the score 7-4 and that was all from Dayton in the ninth.

Kevin Coulter (5-3) earned the win on the mound for the Captains. He allowed one run on four hits in five innings. Coulter issued one walk and struck out two Dragons.

Feliz (0-1) took the loss in a rehab spot start for the Dragons. He allowed four runs in one inning of work on three hits with one walk and a strikeout.

Jerson Ramirez (4) tossed the final two innings to earn the save. Ramirez allowed one run on one hit and a walk with three strikeouts.

Xzavion Curry gets the start for the Captains in game two of the six-game series in Dayton. First pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark.

About the Captains

The Lake County Captains are the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.